The gardener recalled that moniliosis (monilial burn) is a dangerous fungal disease that affects almost all fruit trees. Stone fruits are especially affected: apricot, plum, peach, cherry and sweet cherry.
According to the author of the video, many inexperienced gardeners mistake the consequences of the disease for the effects of frost, as branches and flowers suddenly turn brown and dry out. In fact, this is exactly what a tree infected with a fungus of the genus Monilia looks like.
Stages of disease development
Infection of the garden occurs during flowering – the spores fall on the flower, grow into the peduncle and go deep into the branch. As a rule, this occurs at high humidity, when the air temperature does not rise above 12 °C.
If the tree is not treated in the spring, the spores infect the fruit through cracks, resulting in brown spots and gray spore pads. Because of this, the fruits rot or mummify right on the branches.
How and when to treat trees
The gardener noted that the choice of preparation for treating the garden depends on the air temperature and the phase of tree development.
If the treatment is carried out before the buds open, it is effective to use a Bordeaux mixture. If the garden has begun to bloom, but the weather is cold, the fungicide “Horus” is suitable, which is applied directly to the flowers.
If the air temperature rose above +15 °C, the gardener advised using the Signum fungicide.
Important Safety Instructions
- During the flowering of the garden, you should not use insecticides, as they will lead to the death of bees, and without their participation there will be no harvest, even if the tree remains healthy.
- Remove old fruit. Mummified fruits left on the branches from last year are the main breeding ground for the fungus.
- Ecological approach. If you want to get a clean harvest, give preference to contact preparations (Medyan Extra, Bordeaux mixture) and biological products (Fitosporin), since systemic chemistry tends to accumulate in fruits.
Protect your garden in time for a summer harvest!
